Warsaw Mayor Named To Tax Study Panel

INDIANAPOLIS - Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins was named to Indiana's Property Tax Replacement Study Commission by Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Garton Wednesday.

The commission, which must meet by May 1, will study the effects of eliminating 50 percent, 75 percent and 100 percent of net property tax levies. The study must identify revenue sources capable of replacing property taxes and providing sufficient revenue to maintain essential government services. Status reports will be submitted to the Legislative Council in June and September.

Wiggins, who also serves on the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns' executive committee, said that group is very interested in cutting property taxes.

"IACT has always been in favor of a fiscal flexibility rather than being handcuffed by state funding," he said. "That's one reason I said I would volunteer for the committee."

The mayor is a CPA for Ramsey and Wiggins, certified public accounting partnership.

The law requires that Garton appoint 12 members, consisting of two senators, eight representatives of community interests and two members with no particular representation or affiliation.

In addition to Wiggins, the Senate appointees are:

• Patrick J. Kiely, president of the Indiana Manufacturers Association;

• Jason Shelley, state director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses;

• Don Strietelmeier, a Hope farmer;

• Bill Roach of Roach Enterprises, Brownsburg;

• Louis E. Zickler, a Greenwood real estate agent;

• Mike Karickhoff, member of the Kokomo city council;

• Deborah Driskell, Indiana Township Association Inc. president;

• Thomas Taylor of Indianapolis;

• Joseph Loftus of Carmel;

• Sen. Luke Kenley (R-Noblesville); and

• Sen. Lindel Hume (D-Princeton).

Kenley will be the commission's co-chairman.

The deadline for the commission's final report to the Legislative Council is Nov. 30. It must include summaries of each possible elimination proposal, as well as a record of public testimony. The commission also will provide a fiscal analysis of the cost to the state, units of local government and school corporations.

The commission was established in Section 39 of House Enrolled Act 1005 (Public Law 64-2004). The remaining 12 members will be appointed by the Speaker of the House.